Monday, April 1, 2024

Cruise Formal Night Explained: 10 Things to Know What to Wear and More

cruise elegant attire

You might be wondering about what outfits are too dressy or not dressy enough for formal nights on a cruise. Here are a few examples and recommendations for formal night cruise wear, to give you a idea. You might be wondering what to expect on cruise formal nights, how many there are, and even if you can skip them if you like. On some nights aboard a Disney cruise, the ship will hold a special themed night, including a pirate theme, dress-up night, or semi-formal night. During dress-up night, the cruise line recommends dress pants with a jacket or a suit for men and a dress or pantsuit for women during dress-up night. Many cruise lines don’t extend the formal dress code to their specialty dining restaurants.

Smart Casual

Unlike most cruise lines, there are no formal nights on a Windstar Cruise. Some cruise lines are more relaxed than others, while some do not have formal nights. We’ve broken down the formal night requirements of the major cruise lines below.

cruise elegant attire

Royal Caribbean Dress Code

Typically most cruise evenings call for smart casual attire, but you can choose to wear formal clothes if you wish. Keep in mind that the evening is the time most cruise lines have photographs of their guests taken. This is another reason why it is important to be a bit dressed up, especially if you are going to have a photo taken. A little black dress is always appropriate for cruise formal nights, however the lace detail on this dress just adds an extra touch of elegance. Like most of the other dresses in this list of cruise outfit ideas, it’s very affordable. Uniformity across the fleet is a bit more likely on this small-ship upscale cruise line.

What do people wear on a cruise?

In this post we’ve gone over what to expect on cruise formal nights, and why they are a special part of many cruises. We’ve also answered many frequently asked questions about formal nights on cruises, the traditions and offored suggestions showing what people might wear on formal nights. On formal nights, men are asked to wear a suit, tuxedo, or slacks with a jacket, while women are requested to wear a cocktail dress, evening gown, or pantsuit. Most cruise lines have designated specific evenings as “cruise elegant nights” or “formal nights”. These evenings vary in number depending on the length of your cruise, with shorter cruises usually having one or two elegant nights, while longer cruises may have more.

The 1-item upgrade you need for a better cruise ship cabin experience (it’s already in your house)

A light sundress or cute shorts and a top are perfect outfits for the first day of your cruise vacation. Exceptions are the line's "dress-up" nights — two on sailings of a week or more and one on shorter voyages. It's not uncommon to see jeans, shorts, T-shirts or bathing suits during the day. Unlike most other lines, the same goes at dinnertime, with jeans and T-shirts just as common as dressier attire like slacks and button-downs. During the day, even though jeans and t-shirts are acceptable, expect to see quite a bit of designer resort wear, particularly on Europe-heavy itineraries.

The larger the ship, the more casual options there are throughout the evening. On the relatively smaller ships like Serenade of the Seas or even Adventure of the Seas, the dress code is a bit more easy-to-spot as there's less room for everyone to spread out. While all of the 21 mega ships across the MSC fleet have a casual vibe, each ship has its own personality. MSC Seaside's dress code, though similar on paper to the line's other ships, has specific rules for its array of unique evening venues. You may find slight differences between the dress codes on MSC Meraviglia, MSC Magnifica, or MSC Belissima, each according to their individual offerings. Themed evenings and gala nights are the hallmarks of cruise entertainment, demanding a wardrobe that elevates your style to match the night’s festivities.

cruise elegant attire

Dress-up nights are found on three- and four-night Disney cruises, with optional formal and semiformal nights on seven-night cruises. Dress-up means dress shirts, slacks and jackets for men and dresses or pantsuits for women. Semiformal entails suits or jackets for men and dresses or pantsuits for women; optional formal attire is not specified but is generally a more elegant version of semiformal wear. Most cruises also include one or more theme nights (like Pirate Night).

During the day, you'll often find them in swimsuits and cover-ups or resort casual clothes, such as beachy button-downs or tank tops and khaki shorts. Some cruise lines, including Holland America and Princess Cruises, will have 3 formal nights on cruises that are 14 days and longer. If you’re worried because you don’t own any traditional “formal night” attire and don’t want to purchase new clothes just for your cruise, don’t fret. Most cruise lines will have one formal night on sailings of less than six days and two formal nights on cruises of 7 days and more.

I’m so happy you’re here!

Cruise Etiquette: What's the Dress Code These Days? - Condé Nast Traveler

Cruise Etiquette: What's the Dress Code These Days?.

Posted: Tue, 19 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Swimsuits, shorts, cover-ups and exercise attire should be reserved for poolside, in the fitness center and on the sports deck. Shorts (including cutoff jeans), T-shirts, sportswear, flip-flops, bathing suits, caps and men's sleeveless shirts are never permitted in the main dining room or specialty restaurants during dinner. During casual nights on a cruise, resort wear or casual attire is usually appropriate. This can include nice slacks, a blouse for women, khakis, and a polo shirt for men. For the most part, the only time you’ll need to dress anything other than casual is if you participate in formal night. That said, there are some spots where some nicer clothes are a good idea even if that evening’s dress code is casual.

This loose blouse is available in different colors and patterns as well. Bring attractive swimwear cover-ups when eating breakfast or lunch alfresco, or walking to and from the pool. Stick to mix-and-match neutral tones like white, beige and tan; or gray, black and white. Culinary-focused European river cruises have become a popular way for food and travel enthusiasts to explore the... Endearing herself to readers with her warm, personable writing style, Judith has become a trusted voice in the cruising community.

Our Artisanal clothing collections include limited edition bespoke print dresses, heritage hand woven and embroidered looks inspired by world travels. Please no tracksuit trousers, basketball shorts, flip-flops, bathing clothes or cut-off jeans. The "Formal" dresscode for children and teens is the same as it is for adults. If your child or teen has worries about being alone wearing formal clothes calm him/her down and explain that everyone else is wearing the same thing.

No tank tops, caps, or bathing suits are permitted in the main dining room or specialty restaurants, and footwear is always required. Formal nights are unique to the cruise industry, which may be a change for traditional resort vacationers. The tradition is reminiscent of the golden age of transatlantic cruises when guests were required to dress formally during the evening.

Of course, you can add more clothing items or bring less, depending on the length of your cruise. Many shore excursions available on Alaskan cruises require some additional clothing items, especially outdoor adventures. Do some research on the excursions you’re considering and make sure you have the appropriate footwear and clothing to stay safe and comfortable. As on other lines, you may find that the official dress code may be lightly enforced on some ships, often in relation to destination and even size of the ship.

At the core of it, formal nights on a cruise ship are not about strict rules but celebrating special occasions in style. Women typically shine in cocktail dresses, evening gowns, or sophisticated pant suits, while men don refined options like tuxedos, suits, or smart blazers with trousers. The key is to aim for attire that's a notch above the usual day wear, aligning with the ship's transformed ambiance. On formal nights, proper attire includes tuxedos, suits or slacks (jackets required) for men and evening gowns, cocktail dresses or dressy pantsuits for women. Jeans are welcome in all dining venues during the day, but they're not appropriate in any public venues for dinner or cocktail hour. For formal nights, women are expected to wear elegant and sophisticated evening gowns, cocktail dresses, or dressy pantsuits.

Jeans, T-shirts, shorts and tennis shoes are not allowed in any public area in the evenings, apart from the pool area. In the dining rooms, items such as shorts, pool wear and baseball caps are not permitted; shoes must be worn at all times. Jeans are permitted as long as they aren't fraying and don't have holes. In terms of materials and colors, dark shades dominate formal evening wear.

The great thing about cruising is that so many different “occasions” are packed in to one vacation, from formal dining to snorkeling and sipping cool drinks by the pool or trekking through a rainforest. During Viking cruises to Alaska and Antarctica dress codes are likely to be even more relaxed as outdoor ondeck and onshore activities often take place well into the evenings. It's a bit of a challenge to bundle up for sky watching in fancy clothes. At the once-per-cruise Captain's Welcome Reception, some men choose to wear a jacket (though ties are not expected). There is also a Polynesian Night once every sailing, when passengers are encouraged to wear Polynesian-style attire, so pull out your tropical shirts and dresses.

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